IN the thirteenth chapter of Matthew's Gospel is recorded a remarkable series of parables in which Christ Jesus, the Way-shower, unfolds the nature of the kingdom of heaven, and shows how it is to be attained. In the second of these parables, that of the tares, he deals specifically with a problem which, perhaps more than any other, has perplexed the earnest church worker. This parable appears to be especially helpful to the church as an organized body, and when studied from this point of view its teaching regarding the handling of error is found to be of vital importance to members.
In accordance with this parable, as applied to the church, the good seed has been sown, the Word has gone forth. The workers are all busy and eager to further the interest of the Cause when, contrary to expectations, tares appear in the midst of the wheat. In this situation the ardent servants hasten to their master, point out the tares, and ask whence they came. The reply is, "An enemy hath done this." "Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?" ask the servants in their eagerness to help on the good work and to preserve the harmony; but the wise reply of the householder shows just where the kingdom of heaven reigns. "Nay," he answers, "lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."
In his detailed explanation of this parable, Jesus defined "the reapers" as "the angels." Here, then, we have what is surely a most important instruction, coming from the Way-shower himself; for here is set out the Master's definite answer to the age-long question, How is evil to be destroyed? In their zeal the servants in the parable had offered to attack the tares; but the householder, rejecting such a method, said, No, let them alone until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will command the reapers to destroy the tares and gather up the wheat into my barn.
